Posted: February 21, 2012 10:01PM in AAPL Investorsedited January 2014

A new report claims Google is readying Android-based smart glasses with a heads-up display for release later this year.

The New York Times cited on Tuesday Google employees familiar with the project as saying that the glasses will cost "around the price of current smartphones," which report author Nick Bilton took to mean between $250-600.

Sources said the eyewear would include a small screen intended to sit just a few inches from the user's eyes. The device will reportedly sport a cellular data connection and a range of sensors including motion and GPS.

The report went on to note that a low-resolution built-in camera would provide an augmented reality view of the world by overlaying information. Privacy, however, is believed to be a concern for Google, as the company is looking to provide a way for others to know if they are being recorded by a user wearing the glasses.

Insiders indicated that the glasses would not be designed for constant use, though some power users would likely choose to wear them a lot.

The project is said to have arisen out of Google's futuristic X lab. The Times reported last year that the Mountain View, Calif., company operated a secret research facility for highly speculative projects. Google Latitude creator Steve Lee is rumored to be one of the major players in the smart glasses project, as well as company co-founder Sergey Brin. A report from the San Jose Mercury News last week claimed Google is outfitting a lab for a mysterious "Project X" that involves "precision optical technology."

The glasses are expected to tap into Google's software products, such as Latitude, Goggles and Maps, to create a unique experience. &#147;You will be able to check in to locations with your friends through the glasses,&#148; tipsters said.

Rather than implementing a new business model for the project, Google is said to be approaching the glasses as an open experiment. If consumers like the device, then the company would investigate money-making options.

A separate report from the Times late last year claimed Apple is also working on wearable devices. For instance, one prototype developed by the company is said to be a "curved-glass iPod that would wrap around the wrist." Users would control the device via voice command, similar to the Siri functionality on the iPhone 4S. However, only a very small number of employees are believed to be at work on wearable electronics projects at Apple.

Apple's iPod lineup has been "wearable" for years, as the company has designed its smaller iPods with clips used to attach the devices to clothing. The current generation of iPod nano also features several clock face options so that the device can be coupled with third-party wristband cases to serve as a watch.

Rather than implementing a new business model for the project, Google is said to be approaching the glasses as an open experiment. If consumers like the device, then the company would investigate money-making options.

So, they don't really know if it is cool enough to spark consumer interests so they will just throw it out there. It seems they haven't copied everything about Apple. Well, maybe Apple TV, but I think Apple was wrongly certain Apple TV would be a huge hit when they first released it.

Google glasses sound like something Steve Jobs would kick back to the lab. Another geek toy.

So, they don't really know if it is cool enough to spark consumer interests so they will just throw it out there. It seems they haven't copied everything about Apple. Well, maybe Apple TV, but I think Apple was wrongly certain Apple TV would be a huge hit when they first released it.

Google glasses sound like something Steve Jobs would kick back to the lab. Another geek toy.

The point isn't to get something ground breaking or useful on the market, the point is to get some basic concept in the air so that when Apple shows them how to do it correctly they can just follow suit and then say that it was either obvious all along or that they started it first.

The point isn't to get something ground breaking or useful on the market, the point is to get some basic concept in the air so that when Apple shows them how to do it correctly they can just follow suit and then say that it was either obvious all along or that they started it first.

Wow! Now that's a hefty lack of logic topped off with some serious fanboy trolling.

Anyway... Nice to see companies exploring other avenues in the mobile market.

Yes... It's been 'noted' several times that Apple TV is regarded by Apple as little more than a 'hobby', though part of that claim is likely driven by the marginal sales of the first iteration of the system.

I think Apple was wrongly certain Apple TV would be a huge hit when they first released it.

The real reason Apple released the Apple TV when they did was not because they believed they had a blockbuster product on their hands, rather it was to make it harder for competitors to gain a critical mass. Releasing it when they did bought Apple time to get the business model worked out.

Most of us naturally already have built in, super hi-res resolution in our eyes.

So, somebody is going to buy some expensive glasses to put on their head and view the world through a lo-res camera? And yes, I do admit that I am extremely suspicious as to what will be shown in that augmented reality world and what the purpose of it will be. Android? Google? Great, now I will be bombarded by ads to my left and ads to my right. Malware will never be further away than 2 fucking inches from my face.

Aside from my initial reservations about this product, I will reserve final judgement until I actually see what this thing looks like and what it can do.

Yes... It's been 'noted' several times that Apple TV is regarded by Apple as little more than a 'hobby', though part of that claim is likely driven by the marginal sales of the first iteration of the system.

Most of us naturally already have built in, super hi-res resolution in our eyes.

So, somebody is going to buy some expensive glasses to put on their head and view the world through a lo-res camera? And yes, I do admit that I am extremely suspicious as to what will be shown in that augmented reality world and what the purpose of it will be. Android? Google? Great, now I will be bombarded by ads to my left and ads to my right. Malware will never be further away than 2 fucking inches from my face.

Aside from my initial reservations about this product, I will reserve final judgement until I actually see what this thing looks like and what it can do.